Bafana Bafana’s 2025 AFCON opponents Angola have announced their 55-man preliminary squad for the continental tournament, with an Orlando Pirates player featuring.
The Palancas Negras face South Africa in a Group B opener on December 22 at the football showpiece to be hosted by Morocco. Egypt and another COSAFA team, Zimbabwe, complete this group.
The Warriors and Bafana have already announced their provisional AFCON squads, while the Pharaohs are yet to name the men who will represent them. Angola have also moved to release the names from which their final squad will be trimmed.
Pirates attacker Gilberto, on loan at Petro Atletico, has been included by coach Patrice Beaumelle. Since returning to play in his home country, Gilberto reclaimed his place in the Palancas Negras setup.
The 24-year-old is a strong contender to make the final cut in the AFCON selection, having also been at the tournament’s last edition in Ivory Coast.
CHIEFS DEFENDER SNUBBED AGAIN
However, while Gilberto could be part of the team heading to Morocco, Kaizer Chiefs centre-back Inacio Miguel has endured another heartbreak. The Portugal-born defender has been left out of the preliminary selection.
Miguel lost his place in the Angola national team after joining Chiefs from Petro Atletico in August 2024. That makes his chances of being a surprise inclusion in the final squad slim.
Even with Chiefs’ defence being the most improved department this season with an impressive number of clean sheets, Miguel remains out in the cold. That has not caught the attention of Frenchman Beaumelle who was appointed Angola coach only in October.
Former Cape Town City goalkeeper Hugo Marques has made it into Beaumelle’s squad. Having always been part of the team, including starting in the recent 2-0 defeat by Argentina in an international friendly match, Marques is likely to make it to AFCON.
Before heading to Morocco, Angola will play friendly games against DR Congo and Mozambique on December 13 and 16, respectively, with both matches being staged in Portugal.
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